Most 7th grade students are in advanced english and algebra

[Anonymous]

If it were my kid, I'd teach him to make lemonade out of sour grapes by charging 5-10 bucks for every homework assignment shared. HW requests are serious biz. May as well make it lucrative and looks great on college app:

September 2019 - present
Founder of Education Entrepreneurship startup
XYZ Middle School

[Anonymous]

Montgomery County, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it has changed but a few years ago Honors and Grade Level kids were in the same classes with different assignments.

[Anonymous]

Happens every year. And, no it isn’t the result of a call from mom or dad. The schools do it all on their own.

[Anonymous]

Advanced English is basically regular English in MCPS at this point. As someone else said earlier, regular English is mostly for kids who are working below grade level. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my daughter told me kids that were not in the advanced classes last year are in them now. all it takes is a phone call from mom or dad. one of her friends, who struggled in regular math last year, is now in her algebra class. A kid who got a C in regular English is now in her English class. Why MCPS????

Advanced English is based on MAP-R scores. Kids can have high MAP scores, and not turn in work due to executive function issues, so end up with a lower grade. It doesn't mean the kid can't handle the subject matter. MYOB.

+1
Middle school teacher here. Grades in a class are not necessarily correlated with ability. I have had some students work exactly as hard as they needed to in order to earn a C, because that was the grade that met the parents' requirements. Put those kids in an advanced class, and they do much more challenging work, but again, exactly as much as they need to in order to earn a C.

WRT math classes. Those classes are very structured with specific requirements, timelines, tests, etc. Either a student will be able to keep up or they won't. You have no idea if the kid was tutored over the summer or is getting other outside support. Whether they sink or swim is the student and parent's business, not yours. A failing student in the Algebra class doesn't slow down the class - they just fail. (And be forewarned, the Algebra class is a slow pace for most advanced students. It's a required course and content by the state, and even in a class of advanced learners, it won't go any faster than it does, and that is not the "fault" of any students struggling with the class.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Advanced English is basically regular English in MCPS at this point. As someone else said earlier, regular English is mostly for kids who are working below grade level. End of story.

That is correct.

My kid in 7th grade is in Algebra 1 which I took in 9th grade because I was not in advanced math and things have shifted.

Also my kid is in a super advanced version of history because he did well on the magnet test and the school decided to split the teaching to allow for this.

honestly I don't know what difference it really makes at the end of the day. Why worry what class other kids are in, just concern yourself with the health and well being of your own child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our middle school there is only one section of regular English. Only kids who are below grade level are in it. Everyone else is in advanced English.

OP, advanced classes in MCPS middle schools are not what you think.

This

Our MS only has Advanced English. MCPS just calls it that. No other options.

[Anonymous]

Advanced classes in MCPS = non remedial in other counties.

Regular classes in MCPS = remedial classes

Same with non AP vs AP in high school. They aren’t really college courses. Just typical high school honor. No one takes basic courses in high school except those in remedial or don’t care about college.


MCPS does it to cushion their already inflated grading system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Advanced classes in MCPS = non remedial in other counties.

Regular classes in MCPS = remedial classes

Same with non AP vs AP in high school. They aren’t really college courses. Just typical high school honor. No one takes basic courses in high school except those in remedial or don’t care about college.


MCPS does it to cushion their already inflated grading system.

I agree with you about honors and regular however AP classes have to have the coursework approved by the AP board and the exam comes from them. MCPSaturday can I tell just water it down. That is why they are so popular. People have more confidence in the AP than MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our middle school there is only one section of regular English. Only kids who are below grade level are in it. Everyone else is in advanced English.

OP, advanced classes in MCPS middle schools are not what you think.

Yep. Hypothetically, it’s a step below gifted, but due to parent placements it is really AT BEST simply sifting for behavior at most schools that offer regular. Parents who aren’t in the know won’t ask for their child to be placed in advanced because they think the class will be harder. Many of the advanced lessons aren’t even taught because teachers think they are boring or too challenging for the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Advanced English is basically regular English in MCPS at this point. As someone else said earlier, regular English is mostly for kids who are working below grade level. End of story.

That is correct.

My kid in 7th grade is in Algebra 1 which I took in 9th grade because I was not in advanced math and things have shifted.

Also my kid is in a super advanced version of history because he did well on the magnet test and the school decided to split the teaching to allow for this.

honestly I don't know what difference it really makes at the end of the day. Why worry what class other kids are in, just concern yourself with the health and well being of your own child.

The HIGH social studies classes are not super advanced, but it’s cute that you think they are. Many schools are only offering HIGH due to parents’ pushing. There’s a few new extra lessons each marking period. Otherwise, it’s the old advanced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Happens every year. And, no it isn’t the result of a call from mom or dad. The schools do it all on their own.

Yep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it were my kid, I'd teach him to make lemonade out of sour grapes by charging 5-10 bucks for every homework assignment shared. HW requests are serious biz. May as well make it lucrative and looks great on college app:

September 2019 - present
Founder of Education Entrepreneurship startup
XYZ Middle School

Way to teach ethics, there. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Advanced English is basically regular English in MCPS at this point. As someone else said earlier, regular English is mostly for kids who are working below grade level. End of story.

That is correct.

My kid in 7th grade is in Algebra 1 which I took in 9th grade because I was not in advanced math and things have shifted.

Also my kid is in a super advanced version of history because he did well on the magnet test and the school decided to split the teaching to allow for this.

honestly I don't know what difference it really makes at the end of the day. Why worry what class other kids are in, just concern yourself with the health and well being of your own child.

Is this the same super advanced version that some middle schools are now offering to all students?